“Oh, darling, darling,” Summer crooned, pressing a kiss to the crown of his head. “You don’t have to carry it all alone, you don’t.” She cupped her hand around the back of his head, stroking gently, holding with all the love she could find. “Just let it all go. I can hold it, I’ll help you. I’m here, I love you. Please cry, darling.” It hurt, carrying his pain, but better her than anyone else. And she resolved to seek out Dummy at the first opportunity after she’d settled Tony.
Which might be a while, but that was fine. That was just fine.
Tony shook his head quickly, though it wasn’t clear if he was even listening to anything she was saying at that point. His hold on her tightened, one arm still around her shoulders, his other hand fisted tightly against his knee. For a few more moments, he tried to keep himself in check, drawn taut and trembling, before something finally gave. His shoulders slumped, and he made a small noise, something like a gasp, and he leaned against her as he finally cracked entirely.
Summer sucked in a breath as she sensed the dam give way. Her own eyes slipped closed, tears dropping from under the closed lids. Slowly, she rocked Tony back and forth, kissing every part of him that she could reach, humming lightly. “There, there, shhh darling … ” Without forcing a change of emotion in any way, she let him feel how much she cared, how loved he was, wrapped him around in warmth and sympathy.